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‘Then whose is he?’

      Holly let that one slide. ‘And besides I feel like a movie star doing the talk show circuit. I need to come up with some new material before even I am bored with my funny stories.’ After one final stretch Holly flopped backwards, her arms and legs spread diagonally across the bed.

      ‘As long as this plan of yours has not fizzled out,’ Beth said.

      ‘I promise there has been no fizzling.’

      ‘Good, because I had already decided that my matron of honour dress was going to be bright red, backless and very sparkly. Besides I did up a current star chart and you are primed for a liaison in July. In fact you are so primed you are about to burst. Maybe tarots would help—’

      ‘No! I draw the line at tarot cards.’

      Beth sighed. ‘Fine. What are you doing tonight? Watching TV?’

      Alone? Holly felt the inference come through loud and clear. She glanced at the silent TV at the end of her bed. ‘If it weren’t for your Ben we would still be a pair of old spinsters who loved to do nothing more at night than watch Pride and Prejudice and eat home-made caramel popcorn.’

      ‘That was fun, though, wasn’t it?’

      ‘The most fun ever. But then Ben found you, and loved you and showed both of us how much better our nights couldbe.’

      Holly sighed. She rolled over and scrunched herself into a warm little ball, with the phone cradled under her head. ‘I’ve seen Pride and Prejudice enough times for one woman. You don’t know how lucky you are, Beth. To have someone so decent and strong and dependable.’

      Beth laughed. ‘You make Ben sound like a St Bernard!’

      Better a St Bernard than a Rottweiler, she thought as images of Jacob Lincoln with his dark hair, clear sharp eyes and his overwhelming personality bombarded her subconscious.

      ‘Someone like Ben would drive you around the bend,’ Beth said.

      ‘Hardly—’

      ‘For example, he keeps his socks, underpants and hankies in the same dresser drawer. You have a separate drawer for each and organise them by colour and fabric with seasonal adjustments.’

      ‘How will I ever be able to look at Ben again without thinking about his underwear?’

      ‘Seriously, though, one day you will meet the man for you. A man who puts honey in everything he cooks. A man who will be happy to let you name your first-born son Maximus as you have always wanted, God help the poor child.’

      ‘I don’t see what is so wrong with the name Maximus. It’s a powerful and masculine name—’

      ‘Will you stop kidding around and listen to me?’

      Duly chastised, Holly shut up and paid attention.

      ‘What I am saying is the perfect man for you is out there. But believe me he will be nothing like Ben. That’s nothing against my husband. You drive him around the bend just the same.’

      ‘Thanks.’

      And Holly knew then that, though her friends would always be there with a shoulder to lean on, it would in all likelihood fall to her to find someone to love.

      CHAPTER TEN

      AT LUNCHTIME on Tuesday Holly escorted Lydia to the Lunar restaurant to meet Anabella for their first chat about her upcoming engagement party. Holly had spoken to Ana on the phone that morning and had found her bright and excited and was very much looking forward to meeting her.

      Holly ordered her usual lemon, lime, and bitters with a touch of honey and Lydia ordered a pink lemonade spider with double whipped cream and chocolate topping.

      Soon after Jacob Lincoln slid his impressive suit-clad frame onto the leather bench opposite her.

      ‘Jacob! What on earth are you doing here?’

      Why? Why are you here? Holly screamed inside her head. Wasn’t I perfectly clear? Did you not promise to leave the party to me? Without interference? Without walking in here unheralded, smiling at me like that, like a naughty little boy who knows his mother would never yell at him as long as he flashed those adorable dimples.

      Knowing she had been staring far too long, Holly glanced furtively at Lydia, and was glad to see she was being blithely ignored. In fact, as Lydia lowered her lipstick to her attaché case and smoothed her newly glossed lips together her wide eyes never left Jacob for a moment.

      ‘I beg you not to throw that drink in my face, Holly,’ Jacob said. He sent her an enigmatic smile, as though he knew something she didn’t. ‘New suit. And Anabella sends her apologies but she suddenly had to go out of town … for a week.’

      Holly had to pull herself together. Lydia was now watching the two of them very carefully. ‘I spoke to her only this morning and she didn’t say a thing.’

      Jacob shrugged. ‘As I said, it was sudden.’

      ‘And her fiancé? He was unable to come in her place?’

      ‘Well, he actually had to suddenly go out of town as well. With Anabella. Skiing in New Zealand.’

      ‘I see,’ she said, desperately seeking a way to take control of the situation. ‘So why didn’t she just cancel our meeting until she comes back?’

      ‘She wants the party booked for Saturday week but won’t be back in Melbourne until midday on the day before. She gave me these notes and said to follow them as a guide, but she would be happy with whatever you come up with.’

      He reached over the table with a few loose sheets of pink writing paper covered with loopy handwriting. Lydia’s hand slid across the table and snapped them up.

      ‘I have a week and a half to organise a party for … how many people?’ Holly asked.

      Lydia, who was poring over the pink pages, said, ‘Three hundred.’

      ‘Three hundred people?’

      ‘Of course it’s people, though it doesn’t specifically say people in the notes—’

      ‘Lydia!’

      ‘We can do it easily, Holly,’ Lydia said. ‘Remember the Newman do? We did that in just over a week and it was fab.’

      Holly glared at Lydia, who just shrugged. ‘What did I say? It’s true.’

      Holly sensed Jacob watching them, his head swaying back and forth as though watching a tennis match.

      ‘Look, if you think you need help or if I should get someone else to do it—’ he said.

      Holly placed her hands steadily on the table in front of her. ‘No, we will be fine.’

      The waiter arrived and asked if they were ready to order lunch. Jacob raised his eyebrows at Holly and his look said it all. He had laid his cards on the table; he had changed the rules and made no promises he would not do so again. So much for professional boundaries.

      But now it was her move. Order the meal or don’t order the meal. Take the deal or don’t take the deal. It was decision time and it was up to her.

      So Holly ordered.

      Soup of the day with a side salad. It would be served quickly and could be eaten quickly. Besides, the way her stomach was reacting she probably would not keep anything heavier down.

      Jacob ordered appetisers and eye fillet steak. Well done. ‘Cook it till it’s unrecognisable,’ he said, ‘then flip it and cook it some more.’

      ‘You should eat it rare. It’s much better for you.’ Holly nodded frantically at the waiter, willing him to change the order. Jacob shot her that peculiar enigmatic smile again and she shut up.

      Lydia took a long, luxurious

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